A rat infestation on the grounds of a Vancouver daycare has been partly blamed on nearby compost bins used by community gardeners.
That’s led some to speculate that increased composting in the city will lead to more infestations of the urban vermin.
But as Lower Mainland municipalities approach a Metro Vancouver-imposed deadline to separate out food scraps from garbage by 2015, Lucy Duso wants residents and businesses to know that green bins don’t have to equal furry, four-legged interest, if the organic waste is stored properly.
“Lots of businesses here and across North America have been composting food for years, and so there are lots of people experienced in managing their waste,” said Duso, a communications specialist with Metro Vancouver who has been working with businesses on the new requirement.
“No matter what your waste is, whether the food is separated from your regular garbage or it’s mixed in, if it’s not managed well and the area’s not kept clean and the bins aren’t kept clean, nuisances like pests and odour can become a problem.”
Many Vancouver-area garbage haulers now offer organic waste pickup, and the waste is being received and processed by businesses like Harvest Power in Richmond and Delta’s EnviroSmart Organics.
While municipalities are responsible for educating residents and responding to their concerns, Metro Vancouver has taken on the task of working with businesses.
For businesses, having a good relationship with your waste hauler is key, Duso said. Haulers can often offer solutions for storing and cleaning out the bins to keep them as clean as possible.
Locking up the bins is another good way to keep out not only scavenging animals, but careless humans who could mess up your system.
“If your bin’s locked, and staff can only access it a couple of times a day with the manager keeping an eye on things, it just improves their separation process,” Duso said.
“For multi-family buildings or residents where their bins are out in the alley, we recommend locking them, because people can throw all kinds of things in them.”
